Indoor football game



Jan. 25, 1927. 1,615,491

' L. P. THORNTON INDOOR FOOTBALL GAME Filed Dec. 25, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR Y L 00 7f 7770/477 ATT EY 1,615,491 1927' Y L. P. THORNTONINDOOR FOOTBALL GAME Filed Dec. 23, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR 1 w7i 771/7775, BY

r I /I ATT IZ EY INDOOR FOOTBALL GAME Filed Dec. 23,1925 3 Sheets-:Sheet5 Lav/3 7? Thar/1750 WW RNE Y Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS P. THORNTON, OE PORTLAND, OREGON.

INDOOR FOOTBALL GAME.

Application filed December 23, 1925. Serial No. 77,210.

The object of my invention is to rovide a game that may be played byplacing the device upon an elevated support and have players disposedaround the outer edge of the same and manipulating rods disposed withinthe wall structure surrounding the field and which form guides for crossrods having, dependin therefrom, small figures adapted to strike thefoot ball and move the same in a highl animated manner about the field.The epending figuresbeing so arranged that the path of the ball may beentirely closed to the passage of the ball across the field, dependingupon the skill and agility of the players.

A further object of my invention is to provide a carrying case, the sameto be formed of the bottom side and end walls of the device and when thesame are closed to form a carrying case for the rods, ball, goals andother paraphernalia incident and belonging to the device.

Still further objects of my invention consists in attaching the figuresto the rods in such a manner that a certain flexibility and accumulatedtension may obtain in the figures when the ball is stuck, thus impartingto the ball an intensity of movement-by the players.

till further objects of my invention consist in providing a gamewherein, and whereby, the players may assemble about the game board,placed upon a table or other suitable support, and get all of thethrills from the playing of the game that may be secured by the onlookerat the regular game of foot ball with the additional advantage of theactual articipation in the game, by the players in ulging in the game.

Still further objects of my invention consist in the production of aportable game of foot ball wherein the field of play is constructedproportionally and upon a reduced scale, and wherein the field of playis divided into the standard markings, the device being constructed of aminimum number of parts and one that will not easily get out of orderand that may be easily made.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which r- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the awembledmechanism in position for lay.

Fig. 2 is an end view 0? the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 when the same hasbeen hinged about the central hinged connection to afford portability tothe same.

Fig.- 4 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. a

Fig. 5 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 4, withcarrying straps placed thercaround to facilitate the transporting of thesame.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the end closure illustrated detached from thecase when folded for portability.

Fig. 7 is an end View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a detached view of one of the manipulative rods carrying theplayer depending therefrom.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

The game is constructed primarily of the two side members which form thebottom of the structure and which also form the field of play. 1 and 2,these are hinged together by suitable hinges 3, disposed central fromthe side walls. To maintain the ball within suitable enclosure I provideside rims 4, disposed at either side of the field and of a suflicientheight to maintain the ball within the enclosure when the game is beingplayed. End walls 5 are provided for the same purpose of maintaining theball within the en closure, and upon the field of play. Openings aredisposed central of either end through the end closure 5, and of thestand and proportional width between the goal the ball is struck postsof the standard field. The object of the game is to permit the playersof the opposite side to prevent the passage of the ball through thegoal, which when accomplished counts as one goal for the o positeplayers. A suitable projection 6, is dis osed central of each end and isclosed by sultable netting or screen or other material 7, adapted tomaintain the ball within the goal, once the same has passed through thegoal exit. Cross rods 8 are disposed transversely of the field of playand are maintained in a relatively fixed position due to the samepassing through the wall 2 of the rim, the same may be made to passthrough screw eyes 9, instead of through the wall structure. These rodsmay have a lateral movement imparted thereto, as well as,a movement ofrotation, but otherwise the movement of the same is within these fixedlimits. Rings or other projections 10, are disposed about the cross rodsand limits the lateral movement of the cross rods within certain limitsas the same comes in contact with the screw eyes, or side walls of therim. I have found best results are obtained where these bands are placedat different distances from the center rods. The rods to be placed orused in the center of the field to have less lateral movement impartedthereto than the ones next thereto; the end rods having the greatestfreedom of lateral movement. I have also found most satisfactory resultsare obtained, wherein an even number of players are indulging in thegame, and have therefore shown in the drawing eight cross rods, four ofwhich are disposed at either side of the center of the field. Upon thecentral member of these rods or the one nearest the center of the field,I have placed five men and upon the next of the cross rods I have lacedthree men and upon the third cross rod from the center of the field, Ihave placed two men. The end rod carries but one man, that of the safetyor the goal keeper. The men are shown at 11 and are in the form of arigid plate, preferably of metal and have the player in the form of aprinted figure attached thereupon, as shown at 11. The members of theopposing teams are preferably printed in different colors. To afi'ordflexibility to the player I have found best results are obtained whereinthe rigid plate is attached to the cross rod through the medium of arubber band or spring 12, the same being endless and passes around thecross rod 8 and the rigidplate 11, so that as by the rigid plate theholding band 12, is flexed and an intensified movement is imparted tothe ball. The ball is shown at 13. To prevent a dead s ace being formedat either corner of the field into which the ball may be forced and atwhich the same may come to rest and become inactive,-I have placedinclinedmembers 14 of such an inclination that should the ball be placedthereupon the same will roll back upon the field where the same may bereached by one of the participants of the game.

To afiord portability to the ame as a whole, I havehinged the two si esections together so that as the side sections are closed about the bines a box like structure is formed into whic the cross bars, balls, goalsand other parts may be placed to permit the transportation of the gamefrom place to place. When the side walls are in ed about the bin es,this will leave one of t e walls open, and at the same time the goalopenings will be in an open position also, for the closing of theseopenings, I

have provide a closure member 15, having two end members 16 and 17, of asufficient length and width to close the goals. Fasteningsas hooks 18and 19, may be used to maintain the closure in fixed position. Carryingstraps 20 and 21, may be passed around the assmbly and a handle member22, secured thereto for carrying the complete and assembled unit.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the ob'ects primarily stated, 1t is to be understoothat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in various forms all coming within the scope o f the claimswhich follow:

What I claim is 1. A new and improved football game embodying a pair offield members each provided with one side and two end walls, hingeablysegured together at the up r inner ed of each end wall; said fielmembers w en extended representing a miniature football field; parallelrods loosely mounted above said field; not less than one efiigialelementyieldably suspended from each of said rods; a cut-away ortion formed ineach of the end walls, to farm a. rectangular openin therethrough whenthe first mentioned fie (1 members are extended; an exterior screenedclosure removeably embracing each of said'recta lar openings;

and a member diagonally disposed between the outer edges of eachrectangular opening and the adjacent side wall.

2. A new and improved football game embodying a pair offield memberseach provided with one side and two end walls,

ingeably secured to ther at the up er inner edges of each ,eng wall;said fiel members when extended representing a miniature football field;paralle rods loosely mounted above said field; means provided to limitthe longitudinal movement of said rods; not; less than one efligialelement yieldably suspended from each of said rods; a cut-away portionformed in each of the end walls, to opening and the adjacent sidewall;and a form a rectangular opening therethrough detachable closure elementsecurable to the when the first mentioned field members are open sideand end portions of said device 1 extended; an exterior screened closurerewhen the field members are folded on each 6 .movably embracing each ofsaid rectangular other.

openings; a member diagonally disposed between the outer edges of eachrectangular LOUIS P. THORNTON.

